Celebrated as the New Year of the Hindu calendar, Gudi Padwa symbolises harvesting crops in spring. The auspicious occasion marking hope, new beginnings, and prosperity has different names under different states. For example, it is called Ugadi in the south, and the Sindhi community observes this day as Cheti Chand. Signifying the birth of Bhoomi, the Marathi New Year is an ideal date to make investments, especially in the real estate sector.
The festival stems from when Lord Brahma created the universe, marking the win of good over evil. Gudi Padwa falls on 22nd March 2023, Wednesday with preparations already in place for Marathi and Konkani Hindus who look to decorate their homes with diyas and rangolis and cook traditional meals like Puran Poli, making it a day for families to come together and celebrate.
Speaking of decorating your homes during Gudi Padwa, let us look at some ideas you could incorporate this year.
1. Hoisting the traditional Gudi flag
Signifying the victory of Lord Rama, the Gudi Flag is one of the primary customs to follow on the holy occasion, which you can either make by yourself or visit a store. The flag consists of a vibrant silk scarf tied on top of the bamboo stick, decorated with flowers, neem, and mango leaves, capped with gold, silver, or bronze Kalash or a pot, hung on trees, terraces, and windows, signifying good luck and prosperity.
2. Make the perfect rangoli
A regular in most Indian festivals, use organic colours and patterns while making the rangoli outside the entrance of your home. Beautify it further by aligning diyas and flower petals around them. Drawing a rangoli at the corner of your house marks abundance in wealth and good fortune.
3. Decorate using fresh flowers and torans
Arrange for fresh flowers and leaves while adding mango-leaf torans to the entrance of your home, giving out a pleasing aroma and a vibrant look while also adhering to the norms of traditional decoration.
4. Brighten your homes with ethnic lighting
You can use ethnic lighting patterns by decorating your house with chandeliers, table lamps, wall scones, and table lamps. Ensure areas of the home, like the study room and pooja room, are well-lit. Remember to add diyas and tea lights in the corners of your homes.
5. A lavish layout at the dinner table
No Indian festival is complete without families and friends rejoicing in the traditional food dishes. Some mouth-watering food items made on the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa include Puran poli, Poori, Rava ladoo, Amrakhand, and a special dish made from neem, peanuts, and jaggery are some of the customs on the menu. Make sure you use the proper cutlery, bringing out the traditional silverware.
6. The perfect time to add some colours to your home
One of the best ways to give your house a revamped look is by painting them. Using the same colours or a different palette is entirely your choice. You can also add wallpapers in case painting doesn’t seem feasible.
7. Invest in new furnishings, fittings and switch fabrics
An ideal time if you’re looking to purchase a new sofa set, dining table, chairs, etc. Renovate or redo your kitchen cabinets and shelves. Use new fabrics by changing your bed and table linens, including cushion covers, curtains, and table runners.
8. Enhance the beauty of your pooja room
Begin your day with a prayer and decorate the area surrounding your deity, ensuring everything is in order. You can add torans, temple bells, rangoli, and diyas to enhance further the sense of spirituality in the room.
9. Fabrics
Use colourful fabrics like silk and cotton to create drapes, tablecloths, and cushion covers. You can choose fabrics with traditional prints or go for modern designs.
10. Artwork
Hang traditional artwork and wall hangings in your home to add a touch of culture and tradition. You can choose paintings, tapestries, or prints that depict scenes from Indian mythology or everyday life.
Conclusion
There are many creative ways to decorate your house on Gudi Padwa, the traditional Hindu festival that marks the beginning of the New Year in the Indian calendar. Some popular decorations include hanging torans (door hangings) made from marigold flowers and mango leaves, displaying rangolis (intricate patterns made with coloured powders) on the floor, and setting up a gudi (a flag-like decoration made from a stick, a piece of cloth, and a symbol of Lord Brahma). Other decorative ideas include placing diyas (small lamps) around the house, using colourful fabrics to create drapes and tablecloths, and putting up traditional artwork and wall hangings. Whatever decorations you choose, the key is to embrace the joyous spirit of Gudi Padwa and celebrate the start of a new year with your family and loved ones.
Hopefully, the above blog can help you with some new and exciting ideas, with Gudi Padwa just around the corner, marking a new beginning for many and hoping for wealth, happiness, and prosperity.
